Renters Solutions: 7 Real Life Examples of White Walls that Work

Renters everywhere face a common enemy: the dreaded white wall. But should you have walls you cannot paint, fret not! These Apartment Therapy renters work with the white wall, not against it. Granted, we are not all blessed with crown moldings or 15 foot ceilings, but the principles ring true for many a space. The key element is natural light.

Jesse's Modern Bachelor Pad House Tour - Jesse's space is a veritable tutorial in how to get the most out of a rental. By sticking to a muted palette and layering whites, textures, woods, and metals, he managed to make an awkward layout feel elegant and intentional. Great photographs make the room shine.

Alana's Brooklyn Railroad House Tour - Alana went another direction: she enriches her apartment with global textiles, warm reds, and personal touches throughout. The wall color here appears to be an off white — an even more difficult color to pull off than true white in my opinion, but she manages well.

Chris & Kristen's Artist's Retreat - Of course, being an artist helps. Every inch of this environment oozes creativity and personality. The paintings and personal objects within are set off by all the white.

Our previous landlords thought we were crazy when we were actually allowed to choose the color, and painted over the cool gray and turquoise walls with white (at our own expense). But the result was calm, bright, and modern. Embrace the absence of color. It might just magnify what you love.